Retention member and holster with friction producing portion

ABSTRACT

The invention provides a retention member with friction producing portion for mounting a hand gun or magazine holster on a user&#39;s pants and/or belt that increases the gripping power between the holster and the user&#39;s hip thereby permitting quick withdrawal of the gun or magazine from the holster while allowing the holster to remain securely against the user&#39;s hip. Also provided is a unitary inside the waistband rigid plastic hand gun or magazine holster.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No.60/635,869, filed Dec. 13, 2004, which is hereby incorporated byreference in its entirety.

FIELD OF INVENTION

The present invention relates to a retention member with frictionproducing portion for a hand gun or magazine holster.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Numerous types of gun holsters are known in the art. Traditionally, gunholsters, as well as pouches that hold magazines, are made of leather.Leather is a relatively durable material, which can be used tomanufacture a hand gun holster suitable for receiving different modelsand configurations of hand guns. Therefore, a hand gun owner could use agun holster that was not specifically designed for the specific model inhis possession, however, with time, the leather holster would roughlyadapt its configuration to that of the hand gun within it. After theshape adaptation took place, the hand gun user was not always satisfiedwith the leather holster's ability to, on the one hand, hold the gunwithin it and, on the other hand, allow for the quick draw therefrom.

Since the leather is susceptible to external forces such as exposure tomoisture, expansion and contraction due to temperature changes, and wearand tear effects, the holster's inner configuration is slightlydifferent at various points in time. The difference, over time, in theholster's inner shape consequentially influences the grippingrelationship between the gun and the holster and may be detrimental forsome hand gun users. A police officer, who is required on occasion todraw the hand gun in a quick fashion, cannot allow or accept a situationwhereby upon attempting to swiftly remove the hand gun, he finds theholster attached to the gun in his hand thereby interfering with thenext step of loading and/or discharging the weapon. The above situationsoccur under conditions in which a leather holster is clipped to theuser's pants or belt, rather than being threaded through a belt, and inwhich an expansion of the holster has taken place to the extent that thegripping power between the holster and the hand gun are greater than thegripping power between the holster and the user's pants.

A hand gun holster and a magazine holster (pouch) require the uniquecharacteristics of, on the one hand, the ability to securely grip thehand gun when placed therein, eliminating the possibility, for example,of the hand gun falling out when the holster is placed in a downwardlyangle due, for example, to the bending over of the user and, on theother hand, to allow for the quick draw of the gun without anyinterference.

In U.S. Pat. No. 6,398,089, herein incorporated by reference in itsentirety, the present inventor has overcome the above shortcomings byproviding a holster with specific inner dimensions for receiving a handgun or magazine, whereby the holster would have a predetermined grippingrelationship with the gun or the magazine, thereby eliminating shapevariations resulting from external forces such as temperature andmoisture.

The present invention provides a retention member for mounting a handgun or magazine holster on a user that comprises a friction producingportion, which increases the gripping power between the holster and theuser, thereby creating even quicker withdrawal of the gun or magazinefrom the holster while allowing the holster to remain securely againstthe user.

SUMMARY OF INVENTION

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide formounting a holster on a user, wherein said retention member is made ofrigid plastic and comprises a friction producing portion, which enhancesretainment of the holster against the user upon withdrawal of the gun ormagazine from the holster.

In another embodiment of the present invention, the retention membercomprises a friction producing portion and a lateral concaveconfiguration complementary to the convex configuration of said user'ship.

In another embodiment of the present invention, the retention member isa product of double injection molding.

In another embodiment of the present invention, the retention membercomprises a friction producing portion and a lateral step configurationalong the longitudinal axis thereof, whereby said step forms a ledgethat can underride a belt thereby enabling said belt to act as stopmeans preventing upward movement of said holster, while allowing thequick draw of a gun or magazine therefrom.

In another embodiment of the present invention, the retention membercomprises a friction producing portion and a lateral step configurationalong the longitudinal axis thereof, whereby said step forms a ledgethat can underride a belt, and wherein the ledge of said step furthercomprises at least one flange substantially parallel to said member andsubstantially perpendicular to the ledge of said step, thereby forming ahook-like configuration for hooking against the front surface of saidbelt, thereby enabling said belt to act as stop means preventing upwardmovement of said holster, while allowing the quick draw of a gun ormagazine therefrom.

In another embodiment of the present invention, the holster comprises alateral concave configuration and a friction producing portion. Mostpreferably, the friction producing portion is a product of doubleinjection molding.

In another embodiment of the present invention, the holster furthercomprises a retention portion comprising a friction producing portionfor mounting the holster to the user's pants and/or belt, if any. Theretention portion comprises a straight portion, a top member coupled tothe straight portion at a top thereof for holding onto the user's pantsand/or belt, if any, at a top thereof, and a bottom member coupled tothe straight portion at a bottom thereof for holding onto the user'spants and/or belt, if any, at a bottom thereof. In a highly preferredembodiment of the present invention, the straight portion is adjustableto accommodate different belt widths.

In another embodiment of the present invention, the retention portion ofa unitary inside the waistband holster comprises a friction producingportion, which enhances retainment of the holster against the user's hipand pants upon withdrawal of the gun or magazine from the holster. Mostpreferably, the friction producing portion is a product of doubleinjection molding.

While the invention will now be described in connection with certainpreferred embodiments in one or more of the following figures so thataspects thereof may be more fully understood and appreciated, it is notintended to limit the invention to these particular embodiments. On thecontrary, it is intended to cover all alternatives, modifications andequivalents as may be included within the scope of the invention. Thus,the following figures which include preferred embodiments will serve toillustrate the practice of this invention, it being understood that theparticulars shown are by way of example and for purposes of illustrativediscussion of preferred embodiments of the present invention only andare presented in the cause of providing what is believed to be the mostuseful and readily understood description of formulation procedures aswell as of the principles and conceptual aspects of the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 illustrates the concave side of a retention member comprising afriction producing portion, which is the product of double injectionmolding.

FIG. 2 illustrates the concave side of a retention member comprisingfour segments of a friction producing portion, which is the product ofdouble injection molding.

FIG. 3 illustrates the convex side of a retention member comprising aledge to underride a belt.

FIG. 4 illustrates the convex side of a retention member comprising aledge to underride a belt and two flanges.

FIG. 5 illustrates an inside the waistband hand gun holster.

FIG. 6 illustrates a side view of an inside the waistband hand gunholster.

FIG. 7 illustrates the concave side of the inside the waistband hand gunholster.

FIG. 8 illustrates an alterative view of the concave side of a retentionmember.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

In the following drawings, similar numerals have been used to designatesimilar parts.

As shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 8, the present invention provides an insideor outside the waistband retention member 1 for mounting a holster on auser's pants and/or belt, which is made of rigid plastic via injectionmolding and which increases the gripping power between the retentionmember 1 and the user's hip to thereby secure the holster to the user'ship upon the quick withdrawal of the gun or magazine from the holster.The gripping power is increased because the retention member 1 furthercomprises a friction producing portion 2 that comprises any type ofpolymer, which may be the same as or different from the plastic makingup the retention member 1, so long as the polymer of the frictionproducing portion 2 creates greater friction between the retentionmember 1 and the user's hip than the retention member 1 would alone. Forexample, the friction producing portion 2 can comprise the polymer ofthe retention member 1 in a modified or treated form whereby thefriction producing portion 2 creates greater friction between theretention member 1 and the user's hip. By creating greater frictionbetween the retention member 1 and the user's hip, the frictionproducing portion 2 allows the retention member 1 to remain securelyagainst the user's hip even when the user withdraws the gun or magazinequickly from the holster.

Inorganic and organic polymers, including natural, synthetic andsemisynthetic, are useful polymers for adding friction between theretention member 1 and the user's hip. Such polymers include, but arenot limited to, rubber, nylon, rayon, and silicone. Preferably, thepolymer is a synthetic polymer such as a thermoplastic elastomer. Typesof thermoplastic elastomers include polyurethanes, polyester copolymers,styrene copolymers, olefinics, polyamides, elastomeric alloys, andmelt-processible rubbers. Elastomeric alloys comprise polymer alloys ofan olefinic resin and rubber. Melt-processible rubbers are sold by DuPont under the Alcryn tradename.

The friction producing portion 2 may also comprise other types ofmaterials that increase the friction between the retention member 1 andthe user's hip.

The friction producing portion 2 may be applied to the retention member1 in any customary or ordinary method. One such method includes doubleinjection molding. Other examples include, but are not limited to,gluing, spray gluing, taping, stapling, pinning the friction producingportion 2 onto the retention member 1. For example, glue is applied tothe retention member 1, the friction producing portion 2 is then appliedto the glue, and heat is applied to adhere the friction producingportion 2 to the retention member 1.

In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the retention member1 comprising the friction producing portion 2 is a product of doubleinjection molding. Double injection molding, also known as coinjectionmolding or 2-shot molding, is well known in the art. It is a techniquewhere two dissimilar materials are cast and integrated together. Thefirst molding is cast, and then the second material is cast in the samemold, integrating the two materials. More specifically, double injectionmolding combines two plastic materials injected in the mold to form asingle part.

In another embodiment of the present invention, the retention member 1comprises a lateral concave configuration complementary to the convexconfiguration of the user's hip, whereby the retention member 1 iscomfortable to wear. The friction producing portion 2 may be integratedpartially or fully to the concave side or convex side or both sides ofthe retention member 1. Preferably, the friction producing portion 2 isintegrated at least to the lateral concave configuration of theretention member 1 as shown in FIG. 1, FIG. 2 and FIG. 8. FIG. 1 andFIG. 8 illustrate that the friction producing portion 2 has beenintegrated almost fully to the lateral concave configuration of theretention member 1. Additionally, as shown in FIG. 2, segments 3 of thefriction producing portion 2 may be integrated to the retention member1. These segments 3 may be integrated in a random or in an organizedpattern and may be circular, linear or amorphous in shape. The frictionproducing portion 2 and the segments 3 thereof may also be integrated insuch a way so as to be raised up above the retention member 1 to produceeven greater friction between the retention member 1 and the user's hip.The friction producing portion 2 and segments 3 thereof may be in acolor that is the same or different from the retention member 1.

In another embodiment of the present invention, the retention member 1comprises an abrasive surface, which produces friction between theholster and the user's hip. The abrasive surface may be created by anytraditional method including, but not limited to, etching.

In yet another embodiment of the present invention, as shown in FIG. 3,the retention member 1 comprises a friction producing portion 2 (notshown) and a lateral step configuration along the longitudinal axis ofthe retention member 1, whereby the step forms a ledge 4 that canunderride a belt thereby enabling the belt to act as stop meanspreventing upward movement of a hand gun or magazine holster, whileallowing the quick draw of a gun or magazine therefrom.

In a further embodiment of the present invention, as shown in FIG. 4,the retention member 1 comprises a friction producing portion 2 (notshown) and a lateral step configuration along the longitudinal axis ofthe retention member 1, whereby the step forms a ledge 4 that canunderride a belt, and wherein the ledge 4 of the step further comprisesat least one flange 5 substantially parallel to the retention member 1and substantially perpendicular to the ledge 4 of the step, therebyforming a hook-like configuration for hooking against the front surfaceof the belt, thereby enabling the belt to act as stop means preventingupward movement of a hand gun or magazine holster, while allowing thequick draw of a gun or magazine therefrom.

The present invention further provides an inside the waistband rigidplastic hand gun holster. As shown in FIG. 5, this inside the waistbandholster 6 is one single piece of continuous, unitary, uninterruptedrigid plastic. The holster does not comprise any rivets or screws.

In one embodiment of the present invention, the inside the waistbandholster 6 comprises a rigid plastic holster having inner dimensionscomplementary to the configuration of the outer sections of a hand gunor magazine to be placed therein, wherein said holster is a product ofinjection molding.

As shown in FIG. 5 and FIG. 6, the holster 6 preferably furthercomprises a retention portion 7 for mounting the holster 6 to the user'spants and/or belt. The retention portion 7 comprises a straight portion8, a top member 9 coupled to the straight portion 8 at a top thereof forholding onto the user's pants or belt at a top thereof, and a bottommember 10 coupled to the straight portion 8 at a bottom thereof forholding onto a user's pants or belt at a bottom thereof. The top member9 curves first horizontally and then downward toward the bottom member10 and may include, but is not limited to, a hook, a fastener, a claspor a clip. The top member 9 wraps over the top of the user's pantsand/or belt to secure the holster to the user's pants and/or belt. Thebottom member 10 curves upward toward the top member 9 and furthercomprises a shelf 11 wherein the user's pants and/or belt may lie. In ahighly preferred embodiment of the present invention, the straightportion 8 is adjustable to accommodate different belt widths.

As shown in FIG. 7, the inside the waistband holster 6 comprises alateral concave configuration complementary to the convex configurationof a user's hip, whereby the holster 6 is comfortable to wear, therebysolving the problem in the prior art.

In another embodiment of the present invention, the inside the waistbandholster 6 further comprises a friction producing portion 2 (not shown).As stated above, this friction producing portion 2 increases thegripping power between the holster 6 and the user's hip to therebysecure the holster 6 to the user's hip upon the quick withdrawal of thegun or magazine from the holster 6. Also as stated above, the frictionproducing portion 2 may comprise any polymer, which may be the same asor different from the plastic making up the holster 6 so long as thepolymer of the friction producing portion 2 creates greater frictionbetween the holster 6 and the user's hip than the holster 6 would alone.For example, the friction producing portion 2 can comprise the polymerof the holster 6 in a modified or treated form whereby the frictionproducing portion 2 creates greater friction between the holster 6 andthe user's hip. The friction producing portion 2 may be applied to theholster 6 in any conventional or traditional method. Most preferably,the friction producing portion 2 is integrated with the holster 6 viadouble injection molding, a process which has already been explainedabove. In a highly preferred embodiment of the present invention, thefriction producing portion 2 is integrated to the lateral concaveconfiguration of the holster 6 via double injection molding. Thefriction producing portion 2 may be partially or fully integrated to thelateral concave configuration of the holster 6. Alternatively, segments3 (not shown) of the friction producing portion 2 may be integrated tothe lateral concave configuration of the holster 6 in a random ororganized pattern. The segments 3, as stated above, may be circular,linear or amorphous in shape. As previously explained, the frictionproducing portion 2 and the segments 3 thereof may also be integrated insuch a way as to be raised up above the lateral concave configuration ofthe holster 6 to further increase the friction between the holster andthe user's hip.

In another embodiment of the present invention, the lateral concave sideof the holster 6 comprises an abrasive surface, which produces frictionbetween the holster and the user's hip. The abrasive surface may becreated by any traditional or conventional method including, but notlimited to, etching.

In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the retentionportion 7 of the holster 6 comprises a friction producing portion 2 orsegments 3 thereof. Preferably, the friction producing portion 2 orsegments 3 thereof is integrated with the retention portion 7 via doubleinjection molding. Most preferably, the holster 6 comprises a frictionproducing portion 2 or segments 3 thereof on the lateral concaveconfiguration of the holster 6 and on the retention portion 7.

As shown in FIG. 7, the holster 6 further comprises an indentation 12corresponding to the position of an opening of a trigger guard of a handgun positioned therein, whereby said indentation 12 releasablyinterlocks with said trigger guard to form a snap-fit therewith.

It will be evident to those skilled in the art that the invention is notlimited to the details of the foregoing illustrative figures and thatthe present invention may be embodied in other specific forms withoutdeparting from the essential attributes thereof, and it is thereforedesired that the present figures be considered in all respects asillustrative and not restrictive, and all changes which come within themeaning and range of equivalency of the scope of the invention aretherefore intended to be embraced therein.

1. A retention member for mounting a holster on a user, the retentionmember comprising a friction producing portion.
 2. The retention memberof claim 1, wherein the retention member is made of rigid plastic viainjection molding.
 3. The retention member of claim 1, furthercomprising a lateral concave configuration complementary to the convexconfiguration of said user's hip.
 4. The retention member of claim 3,wherein the friction producing portion is integrated to the lateralconcave configuration of the retention member.
 5. The retention memberof claim 1, wherein the retention member and friction producing portionare a product of double injection molding.
 6. The retention member ofclaim 1, further comprising a lateral step configuration along thelongitudinal axis thereof, whereby said step forms a ledge that canunderride a belt.
 7. The retention member of claim 6, wherein the ledgeof said step further comprises at least one flange substantiallyparallel to said retention member and substantially perpendicular to theledge of said step.
 8. The retention member of claim 1, wherein thefriction producing portion comprises a polymer.
 9. The retention memberof claim 8, wherein the polymer is rubber, nylon, rayon or silicone. 10.The retention member of claim 8, wherein the polymer is a syntheticpolymer.
 11. The retention member of claim 10, wherein the syntheticpolymer is a thermoplastic elastomer.
 12. The retention member of claim1, wherein the friction producing portion is raised up above theretention member.
 13. A retention member for mounting a holster on auser, the retention member comprising an abrasive surface.
 14. Theretention member of claim 13, wherein the abrasive surface is created byetching.
 15. The retention member of claim 13, wherein the abrasivesurface comprises a friction producing portion.
 16. The retention memberof claim 15, wherein the friction producing portion comprises a polymer.17. The retention member of claim 16, wherein the polymer is rubber,nylon, rayon or silicone.
 18. The retention member of claim 16, whereinthe polymer is a synthetic polymer.
 19. The retention member of claim18, wherein the synthetic polymer is a thermoplastic elastomer.
 20. Theretention member of claim 15, wherein the friction producing portion israised up above the retention member.